Thermal conductivity of deformed carbon nanotubes

We investigate the thermal conductivity of four types of deformed carbon nanotubes by using the nonequilibrium molecular dynamics method. It is reported that various deformations have different influence on the thermal properties of carbon nanotubes. For the bending carbon nanotubes, the thermal conductivity is independent on the bending angle. However, the thermal conductivity increases lightly with XY-distortion and decreases rapidly with Z-distortion. The thermal conductivity does not change with the screw ratio before the breaking of carbon nanotubes but decreases sharply after the critical screw ratio.Comment: 6figure

CM-CASL: Comparison-based Performance Modeling of Software Systems via Collaborative Active and Semisupervised Learning

Configuration tuning for large software systems is generally challenging due to the complex configuration space and expensive performance evaluation. Most existing approaches follow a two-phase process, first learning a regression-based performance prediction model on available samples and then searching for the configurations with satisfactory performance using the learned model. Such regression-based models often suffer from the scarcity of samples due to the enormous time and resources required to run a large software system with a specific configuration. Moreover, previous studies have shown that even a highly accurate regression-based model may fail to discern the relative merit between two configurations, whereas performance comparison is actually one fundamental strategy for configuration tuning. To address these issues, this paper proposes CM-CASL, a Comparison-based performance Modeling approach for software systems via Collaborative Active and Semisupervised Learning. CM-CASL learns a classification model that compares the performance of two given configurations, and enhances the samples through a collaborative labeling process by both human experts and classifiers using an integration of active and semisupervised learning. Experimental results demonstrate that CM-CASL outperforms two state-of-the-art performance modeling approaches in terms of both classification accuracy and rank accuracy, and thus provides a better performance model for the subsequent work of configuration tuning

Regulation, Targets and Functions of CHK

Src family kinases (SFKs) play pivotal roles in multiple signaling pathways (Yeatman, 2004). SFK activity is inhibited by phosphorylation at its C-terminal tyrosine, by CSK (C-terminal Src kinase) and CHK (CSK-homologous kinase). CHK expression is restricted to normal hematopoietic cells, brain, and colon tissues. Downregulation of CHK in brain and colon tumors contributes to tumorigenicity in these tissues. CHK does not phosphorylate Src efficiently, however, in contrast to CSK, CHK inhibits Src kinase activity allosterically. Although the functions of CHK are still largely unknown, potential substrates of CHK including β-synuclein, α-tubulin, α-spectrin, 14-3-3, and Hsp90 have been identified. CHK is regulated epigenetically via promoter methylation. As the unknown roles of CHK are beginning to be revealed, current knowledge of regulation, molecular targets and functions of CHK is summarized, and important topics for future CHK research are discussed

catena-Poly[[(2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine-κ3 N,N′,N′′)(tricyano­methanido-κN)nickel(II)]-μ-tricyano­methanido]

In the title complex, [Ni(C4N3)2(C15H11N3)]n, each of the two different NiII atoms is coordinated by one 2,2′:6′2′′-terpyridine (terpy) and three tricyano­methanide ligands in a distorted octa­hedral geometry. The NiII atoms are linked to each other, forming an infinite chain parallel to (10). π–π Stacking inter­actions of terpy mol­ecules between adjacent chains (centroid–centroid distance = 3.785 Å), along with weak inter­molecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds involving the uncoordinated terminal N atoms of the tricyanomethanide ions and the terpyridine H atoms, result in the formation of a three-dimensional network structure

Structure and superconductivity of Mg(B1-xCx)2 compounds

In this paper, we reported the structural properties and superconductivity of Mg(B1-xCx)2 compounds. Powder x-ray diffraction results indicate that the samples crystallize in a hexagonal AlB2-type structure. Due to the chemical activity of Mg powders, a small amount of MgO impurity phase was detected by x-ray diffraction. The lattice parameters decrease slightly with increasing carbon content. Magnetization measurements indicate the non-stoichiometry of MgB2 has no influence on the superconducting transition temperature and the transition temperature width. The addition of carbon results in a decrease of Tc and an increase in the superconducting transition width, implying the loss of superconductivity.Comment: PDF files, 5 pages,3 figures, Accepted by Chinese Physics on Feb. 26, 2001(in press

HMGB1 cytoplasmic translocation in patients with acute liver failure

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a late mediator of lethal systemic inflammation. Acute liver failure (ALF) has been shown to trigger systemic inflammation in clinical and animal studies. To evaluate the possibility of HMGB1 cytoplasmic translocation in ALF, we determined whether HMGB1 is released in hepatocytes and end organ in patients with liver failure/injury.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>HepG2 cell were stimulated with LPS or TNF-α, the increase of HMGB1 extracellularly in the culture medium and intracellularly in various cellular fractions were determined by western blot or immunocytochemistry. To observe sub-cellular location of HMGB1 in hepatocytes, liver specimens were obtained from 6 patients with ALF caused by HBV infection, 10 patients with chronic viral hepatitis B, 6 healthy controls, as well as animals model of ALF by intraperitoneal administration of D-GalN (600 mg/kg) and LPS (0.5 mg/kg).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In HepG2 cell culture, LPS or TNF actively induced HMGB1 cytoplasmic translocation and release in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. In animal model of ALF, cytoplasmic HMGB1 translocation was observed in hepatocyts as early as 3 hours post onset of ALF. In patients with ALF caused by HBV infection, cytoplasmic HMGB1 translocation was similarly observed in some hepatocytes of the liver specimen.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Cytoplasmic HMGB1 translocation may occur during ALF, which may potentially contribute to the pathogenesis of liver inflammatory diseases.</p